Olympic gold medallist Matt Weston is sound of alarm – and it's not just about winning medals, but about the very future of snow sports. The 29-year-old skeleton ace has witnessed a worrying shift in winter landscapes during his decade-long career, and he's now lending his voice to climate action crusaders Protect Our Winters (POW). As Britain's double Winter Olympic gold medallist, Weston knows firsthand the impact of warmer winters on performance – and it's not just about getting hot-headed under pressure.
Training at -27C in St. Moritz was once a given for Weston, but those temperatures are now a rare treat. The historic natural ice track there is even facing the unthinkable: refrigeration to keep things cold. Meanwhile, artificial tracks – which use cooling systems to maintain optimal conditions – are struggling to cope with outdoor temps that often soar into the teens, resulting in lost training days and a knock-on effect on competition prep.
The stakes are high, and it's not just about shaving off precious seconds from your time. Weston explained that even minor frost can act as a brake, critically affecting a sport where margins are razor-thin. But the issue goes far beyond trackside – the winter environment itself is changing, with snow cover becoming increasingly unreliable in mountainous regions.
The Alps, a Mecca for winter sports enthusiasts, are warming at twice the global average, turning what was once guaranteed pristine white scenery into a rare sight. Protect Our Winters (POW) has been sounding the alarm since 2007, founded by snowboarding legend Jeremy Jones. Now, with Weston on board, the message is clear: climate change is no longer just an environmental issue – it's a performance one too.
As an Olympian with a platform, Weston brings a unique perspective to the climate debate. His involvement with POW highlights a growing movement among athletes who are taking action against climate change, not just observing its effects from the sidelines. With his voice amplifying the warning signs, the question is: will we act in time to save snow sports for future generations?